First Base Dynasty Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

February 26, 2023

Justin Raffone takes a look at which first basemen are your best targets in dynasty leagues for the 2023 fantasy baseball season.

After years of mostly just top-tier production, first base is making a comeback in fantasy output. There are some intriguing names in re-draft leagues, but we will look at dynasty fantasy baseball rankings here. Most leagues are starting to decide who will be part of their future; some will be looking to draft some of these players.

The first base position is getting deeper as teams use it to give their players a "rest" day. It may not be as restful as an off day or a day as the designated hitter, but it helps with versatility, and you'll see on this list that many players are more than first base eligible.

This list includes 39 first-base-eligible players, so hopefully, it will help your teams decide where your players stand or who you could look to acquire going forward. Let's get into the list and see what first base offers.

Dynasty First Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Preseason Rankings Thoughts

The top five are all elite options for the position. Guerrero, Alonso, Olson, Freeman, and Goldschmidt all sit in the top 35 and are well deserving of those rankings. Goldy, Freeman, and Alonso finished second, third, and fourth in Razzball's player rater last year and have cemented themselves as some of the best hitters in the game.

Pasquantino (6) had a nice introduction to the majors last season and looks poised to stay near the top of this list for years to come. He had a 46.9% hard-hit rate, one of the best marks in the league, and he had just a 41% ground ball rate, showing he has what it takes to put up big power numbers in Kansas City. He hit .295/.383/.453 in 72 games for the Royals last season while launching 10 home runs and striking out just 34 times compared to 35 bases on balls. He's still young, but acquiring him might cost you a lot as he looks like the real deal.

Walker (25) blasted 36 homers in 2022 with 94 RBI. He had an ISO of .235 and a .359 xwOBA. He didn't help in the average department, coming in at .242, but his BABIP of .248 was partially to blame for that. There's red and dark red all over his percentile rankings as he enjoyed a breakout season. The xwOBA was in the 92nd percentile, as was his xSLG, and his barrel percentage was in the 82nd percentile. He's not as sexy of a name as the players listed ahead of him, but he produced a monster season in 2022 and shouldn't cost you as much.

Bohm (22) has been a bit of a disappointment for fantasy players thus far in his career. The former No. 3 overall pick had just 20 home runs in 2021 and 2022 combined. That's not going to cut it for a corner infielder. Owners are looking for more power out of their position. He hit the ball more along the lines of a middle infielder last season than a first baseman. He was a .83 match with Trea Turner, a .80 match with Christian Arroyo, and a .78 match with Xander Bogaerts based on their batted ball profile similarity. However, some things are trending in the right direction for Bohm. His launch angle almost doubled, and his xSLG jumped from 2021.

Casas (11) has great pop and a great eye. He's going into his age-23 season as the starting first baseman for the re-tooling Boston Red Sox. He's a 70-grade raw power and could develop into 70-game power as well. He may never hit for a high average, but his minor-league numbers were respectable. He hit 16 home runs in 99 games between AAA and MLB last season and should top 25 for years to come. His ISO and SLG have been great at all stops in the minors, and he produced a 120 WRC+ in 27 MLB games in 2022. He's of more use in on-base percentage leagues, and a breakout season in 2023 would see him jump up the rankings here.

Other Options to Watch

Mervis (28) is another young slugger with great pop and a great eye. Although not as highly touted as some of the other first basemen on this list, Mervis has produced great power numbers in the minors. In 210 games, Mervis has 45 home runs and 163 RBI, with a .525 slugging percentage. Baseball Prospectus is the only major publication to have him in their top-100 as he comes in at number 88, but he's someone who could sneak into the Cubs lineup sometime in 2023 if Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini struggle.

Manzardo (12) might be one of the more underrated prospects on this list despite being a second-round pick and a top-100 prospect. He made it to AA as a 21-year-old last season, where he was three years younger than the league average and more than held his own in a brief stint. Between A+ and AA, he hit 22 homers with 81 RBI in 93 games. His hit tool is his best tool, according to Fangraphs, and it grades out at a future 70 tool. His raw power isn't as high as some others on this list, but he will lift the ball, as evidenced by his 55.4% fly ball rate in AAA last year.

Hopefully, this list was able to help you see how some of your players stack up and what to expect from some up-and-comers. The first base position is getting deeper by the year, and even though there are still elite options, it has gotten deeper in years past. Look back for some more dynasty rankings and analysis, and good luck with all your moves heading into the season.

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